Portakabin Ltd

High quality modular buildings to hire or buy with refurbished and site accommodation solutions

Portakabin Ltd are a Made in Yorkshire Platinum Member

Portakabin receives second award commendation for one of UK's most complex interim healthcare schemes

Portakabin, the UK’s leading supplier of modular buildings, has received a second award commendation for its delivery of a highly complex ward and theatre building at Royal Stoke University Hospital. The 4,200sqm facility was completed in less than four months to help meet the increasing demand for orthopaedic services.

In recognition of the success of the project, Portakabin has now been highly commended at the Offsite Awards in the Public Sector Project of the Year category. More than 200 industry leaders gathered to celebrate off-site construction at the NEC in Birmingham. With over 160 exemplary entries, these annual awards recognise pioneering and landmark projects, and manufacturing excellence.

Portakabin was also highly commended for the Constructing Excellence West Midlands Project of the Year Award.

The highly serviced £13.5 million building at Royal Stoke accommodates clean air theatres for orthopaedic procedures, a recovery room, ward bays and single ensuite rooms. A video of the building can be viewed here.

Commenting on the latest award commendation, Robert Snook, Director and General Manager at Portakabin said, “This tremendous accolade is a real credit to our whole team and to such an enlightened client. It is also hugely significant that an interim building solution can achieve such prestigious, national recognition. We are delighted that the quality of the building and our service delivery at Royal Stoke has been recognised and that the project is helping to change perceptions of just what can be realised with modular construction.”

“The success of this project allowed the Trust to have its new orthopaedics unit up and running much more quickly, to meet the increasing demand for services and to enhance patients’ experience with a high quality, purpose-designed healthcare facility. It was extremely challenging in terms of scale, logistics, access, and the very close proximity of existing wards which had to remain fully operational throughout.”

The building was constructed to permanent standards and will be in use for five years, giving the Trust much greater flexibility as the facilities can be removed or adapted according to local needs. The structure was delivered as 124 modules which were installed in a carefully planned operation complete with wall finishes, internal partitioning, mechanical and electrical services and flooring already in place. This approach further reduced work and disruption to patient care on this busy hospital site.

Modular construction is a fast and flexible way for healthcare providers to expand or relocate services, particularly on constrained sites. The hiring of buildings allows projects to be funded cost effectively from revenue rather than capital budget streams, giving NHS trusts the flexibility to meet changing local needs.